“Thank you.” Laya signed the expression as she spoke.
Audrey didn’t know much sign language, but she’d learned a few basic phrases in college, so she signed her response as she said, “You’re welcome.”
Laya grinned. She made an unfamiliar sign that began with what Audrey recognized as the letterL, then pointed at herself.
Audrey mimicked the gesture as well as she could. “Laya?”
Laya nodded, repeating the sign for her name until Audrey had gotten it. Then she waved. “Bye, Dr. Lind. See you Thursday.”
“Bye, Laya. It was a pleasure talking to you.”
Audrey watched her leave, then finished packing up her belongings. As she left the classroom, headed for her office in the next building, she could feel the wide smile on her lips. Her first class had gone so well, and she was more pumped than ever for this job. It was already amazing, and she hadn’t even taught her Women in Art class yet.
She stepped outside, following the sidewalk toward Holman Hall. Idly, she repeated the sign for Laya as she walked, committing it to memory so she could greet her student in the future.
“Hi, Audrey!”
She looked up, waving at Mercy as she passed. “Hi.”
“How was your first class?”
“Really good,” Audrey told her. “Also I think this new transcription software is going to be a game changer for accessibility.”
“I agree,” Mercy said. “I’ve started using it in all my classes. A lot of students like having the option to see what’s said in class. I think it helps with comprehension of the material across the board.”
“That’s such a great point. My last girlfriend always used subtitles on the TV because she said she picked up on so much dialogue she would have missed otherwise. Do all the professors use it?”
Mercy shrugged. “Most of them don’t unless they’re notified about a student who needs accommodations, and even then, some of the older professors grumble about having to learn the technology.”
“Well, I probably wouldn’t have thought of it otherwise, but I think I’ll use it in all my classes now. It was simple to implement, and then no one feels singled out for needing accommodations.”
Mercy smiled. “Glad to hear things are going well. I’ve got to run, but maybe we can meet up for coffee later this week? I’d love to hear more about how you’re settling in.”
“That sounds great. My social schedule is wide open, so just let me know when and where.”
“Will do. Later, Audrey.” With a wave, Mercy headed down the path toward the building Audrey had just left.
Audrey entered Holman Hall with a spring in her step. She had some free time to organize her notes for this afternoon’s class and grab lunch, and then she taught Ceramics II. She was also hoping to spend some time working on a journal article. It was important to get something published, and the sooner the better for making an impression on Stuart.
Tomorrow, she’d teach Women in Art. That was the class she’d been most anticipating, but after her morning ceramics class, she realized she’d already set the bar pretty high for herself because that class had gone amazingly well.
She walked upstairs to her second-floor office, surprised to see Dr. Thompson’s office door open. Since her arrival on campus last Monday, Audrey hadn’t seen her door left open a single time. Maybe Dr. Thompson would be more sociable now that the semester had begun?
“Good morning,” Audrey called as she unlocked the door to her own office.
“Good morning,” came the faint reply.
Audrey glanced into Dr. Thompson’s office to see her seated behind her desk, black-framed glasses perched on her nose, teacup in hand as she stared at her laptop. Dr. Thompson’s blazer today was a black-and-white houndstooth pattern, worn over a black top, and combined with the glasses and the teacup ... well, it was a good look on her. Averygood look.
Dr. Thompson raised her eyes, her expression perhaps slightly annoyed that Audrey was still standing there instead of going into her own office. Audrey was torn. She didn’t want to push, but it was killing her that things were so stilted between her and her former advisor.
“I hear you’ve been appointed to the Sustainability Committee,” Dr. Thompson said after a pause.
“Oh, really? I haven’t seen an email about it.” Audrey had even checked this morning before class, not wanting to miss any last-minute instructions about the new semester. She’d put her name in for three committees, and while this one hadn’t been her top choice, she was glad to have been picked for something. “Wait, how do you know that before I do?”
Dr. Thompson sipped her tea before setting down the cup. “Because I’m also on the committee, and we voted last night. I imagine your welcome email will be coming anytime now.”
“Oh wow ... cool.” Audrey cringed internally, because she sounded the opposite of cool, especially faced with the perfectly poised Dr. Thompson, who was likely regretting her decision to vote for Audrey ...ifshe’d voted for Audrey, which maybe she hadn’t, since she didn’t seem thrilled to have Audrey around in general.
